While Gill and Gian's fight was ongoing, the rest of the team cleaned up the battlefield and tied down their new victims.
In fact, there were a lot of people in this team, about 20 fighters being trained by about half a dozen level 15 mercenaries and a few level 20s. If it was another team, they'd definitely have a lot of trouble.
But their team had Oslo, who also happened to be a dual-elementalist.
He dealt with half of the level 20s and at the same time assisted the others. They also used a few of their weapons here in order to save energy for the main battles, but also to test out their weapons.
The enemies definitely did not expect the rain of crossbow arrows they got showered with. The level 15s were not unhurt, let alone the weaker ones who were skewered like those styrofoams poked with hotdog sticks in kids' parties.
While only a few died though due to the enemies' improved physiques and high levels, it sure made it easy for the Alterans to contain them. Although they were fewer in numbers, there were minimal injuries on their side, which was a miraculous thing.
By the time the weaker ones were tied up, Oslo had also stabbed the level 20's legs until they were basically amputated.
They were alive, yes, but they would literally have to be dragged through roots and stones moving forward. It was torture for the men, which was good, but it could also be a bit troublesome for their side as well.
Oslo looked a bit guilty. "I overdid it, didn't I?"
"Hmn," Tronie mumbled. "You seem to be in a violent mood today."
Tronie came not only to join in the fight (his level was certainly higher than most locals), but he was also sent to look at those new materials the bosses seemed so excited about.
Oslo cleared his throat at the answer, a little embarrassed. Could he say he got inspired by the arrows' skewering that he wanted to join in?
"Ahem, well, then we'll make them pull their disabled comrades. Ahem, time to tie them all up," Oslo said, walking towards their new prisoners with new smaller spikes of metal. Some glared in anger while some shivered in the pain that they knew would come to them.
Fargo's men were utterly shocked at the level of their enemies, and knew they had grossly underestimated Altera. Now, no matter how unreconciled, they could only watch themselves getting brutally tied up because refusing would mean amputation!
Their hands were put together by some enemies and the blonde put a stake of metal, passing through their flesh and bones there. "AHH!" One yelled, and the others experienced the same.
These people were tied by metal stabbed on their palms and locked with a small plate at both ends. It had similar mechanisms to screws—something he learned in Altera.
Aborigines were basically used to bloody sights here, and most of the Terrans there were soldiers. They didn't really mind the gruesome sight.
"Don't worry, you won't need your hands again," Oslo said, stabbing yet another one.
It wasn't permanent metal and would disintegrate with time. After all, permanent manifestations were too time and mana-consuming. But, it would last long enough even after the war started.
The leader, Shau, gritted his teeth in the pain, glaring at the useless Gian who was still fighting. "GIAN! Is this what you call help?! You—"
Shau was slapped and a tooth fell out. He whipped his head and looked at Oslo, a man 10 levels above him. "Stop talking. You're spewing saliva on me," he said, before shifting to tie up a few more, just a few meters away.
Shau was a prideful man and even if this was an obvious strongman, the pain he was subjected to made him rebellious. His sharp eyes looked at the blonde who was looking away.
"Bastard!" He yelled, leaning down and hoping to headbutt the man. However, as he stepped forward, spikes appeared in front of him and it was too late to stop the momentum.
"AHHHH!" Shau yelled as he stepped on the sharp spikes that appeared on the ground. Oslo looked back and sighed, but also quite happy at his own improvements.
He had learned many many things in Altera, and creating such things with lesser mana was one of them. At some point, they learned that using a little of two elements was far more efficient than doing something with similar effects in one.
For instance, this spike was a combination of earth and metal. The same sharpness and damage on either element would've cost twice or thrice the amount of mana.
Oslo ignored him and continued with his tying, followed by screeching screams of pain. The yells seemed to have affected the only ongoing fight left, however.
"Don't kill them!" Gian yelled as he saw this, making Gill's eyes twitch.
"You are fighting ME," Gill said, sending a massive boulder of lava in his direction. Gian gasped as he tried to push it back with fiery hands to minimize damage, but it wasn't enough and he gasped as he was directly hit.
"If anyone of us dies, Gian—you know what will happen!" Shau yelled, still on the ground even after the spikes had disappeared.
Gill's eyebrows rose and his spear came out. Suddenly it enflamed and he slashed at Shau's leg.
"GAHHH!!!" The man yelled like a pig in slaughter. The other attacks were painful enough, but this was amputating him like the others. The added pain of the magma eating away his skin was also making him insane.
"Stop it!" Gian yelled, genuinely afraid.
"I'll consider," Gill said, "If you stop being an idiot and tell me what's going on."
"I will save my sister!" Gian yelled, shakily standing up. "You have seen what those men do! I can't risk angering him—"
At this, Gill had an idea of what was going on with this idiot. Gill heaved a deep breath, and a pothole appeared right at his feet, making the hot-headed young man lose his balance and back to the ground.
Gill stopped attacking and stared down at Gian, who was trying to get back up. Gill sneered and kicked him again, sending him back to the soil.
"Have you seen her yourself?"
"I couldn't risk it!"
This made Gian pause his struggles. "What?" He gulped, looking at him with wide eyes. "I… you're joking—"
"She's a girl with shoulder-length colored hair, right? She seemed to have colored a few streaks violet, but it had faded a bit now."
Gian's jaw clenched, looking at him, waiting for him to tell him more.
"We found her in a neighboring village. She's working as a saleswoman in the Grocery Store. She's living perfectly fine while her own brother assisted terrorist and rapist in breaking other women."
Gill's words seemed to have doused water on him, causing all his fire to go out, and his shoulders slumped in confusion.
He had tried to minimize the victimizations in his own way, but he knew that was not enough considering he still sided with those men in the end.
He even swore an oath not to harm any of them.
A wave of shame and regret drowned him, overcoming the relief of the knowledge that his sister was okay.